Religions: Eastern and Western—Towards an Asian Understanding of Religion

Abstract

Just as the category of world religions can be subdivided into missionary and non-missionary religions, it can also be subdivided into Eastern and Western religions. According to this classification, the Western religions are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (collectively known as the Abrahamic traditions) and the Eastern religions comprise the religions of India and the Far East. This chapter highlights the claim that the Eastern religions possess a distinct concept of religion which acknowledges the possibility of multiple religious belonging, while the Western religions insist on exclusive religious identity.